"Survivor: Cambodia "contestant Ciera Eastin has her mouth covered by her mother Laura Morett, a former "Survivor" contestant, so she can't speak about the upcoming season of Survivor at Morett's home, Monday, September 7, 2015, in Salem, Ore. Statesman Journal file

Salemite Ciera Eastin will be one of the 20 castaways competing on "Survivor" this season. The Emmy Award-winning series returns with a two-hour premiere, 8 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, on CBS. Robert Voets/CBS

Mana Tribe member Ciera Eastin, will be one of the 20 castaways competing on SURVIVOR this season, themed "Game Changers", when the Emmy Award-winning series returns for its 34th season with a special two-hour premiere, Wednesday, March 8 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. The season premiere marks the 500th episode. Robert Voets/CBS

"The Stakes Have Been Raised" - Ciera Eastin on SURVIVOR: Game Changers. The Emmy Award-winning series returns for its 34th season with a special two-hour premiere, Wednesday, March 8 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Notably, the season premiere marks the 500th episode of the series. Robert Voets/CBS Entertainment

This season, called “Game Changers,” features 20 castaways from past seasons competing for a chance at $1 million and the title of “Sole Survivor.”

“The twist of the season is that when you go to a vote in tribal council, normally, if there is a tie vote, you get to revote. There’s no revote. If you tie, it’s straight to rocks. It adds a whole new risk,” Eastin said. “They have only gone to rocks three times in 34 seasons, and I was one of those times.”

Eastin said she was only slightly nervous heading off to Fiji for the potential 39 days of filming.

“This is the third season I’ve filmed in a four-year period,” she said. “It feels like summer camp. It’s kind of funny; I’m always there.”

Still, the mother of two said there was a stigma and a pressure to live up to going into a season titled “Game Changers,” yet nothing that affected her nerves.

“I’m conditioned to go out there and do it,” she said.

When recalling and comparing her past experiences with the latest, Eastin said, “When we were in Cambodia, the conditions there were so terrible that I felt like it really prepared me for anywhere. Weather, health, it can’t get worse than Cambodia. I had to sit in the rain for nine days straight. I know I can do it. I am mentally strong, but some of these people haven’t done that before.”

When she headed out for season 34, Eastin didn’t know whom she would be competing with or against.

“The tribe I was put on for starters, I was pretty excited about, but I was scared of a few players. Aubry (Bracco) was one of them. She came off of ‘Brains, Brawn and Beauty.’ She was a brain and intimidating. We had similar roles in the game. She was kind of a direct threat to me.”

Other players that made Eastin wary include Tony Vlachos of "Season 28: Cagayan," who was known for creating a fake idol, finding hidden immunity idols and winning his season.

“The guy is a huge threat and a huge target,” she said. “I’m such a little target compared to these other players.”

Season 34 was filmed in June and July 2016. Since then, Eastin, who is a student at Johnny Matthew's Hairdressing Training School in downtown Salem, has kept her experience a secret. Next week, all that changes with the premiere of her third attempt at becoming the sole survivor.

Carlee Wright is the entertainment reporter for the Statesman Journal. Contact Carlee at cwright2@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6671, or follow her on Twitter @CarleeWrightSJ, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/CarleeWrightSJ.

Ciera Eastin and Troyzan Robertson are seen on "Survivor: Game Changers." The Emmy Award-winning series returns for its 34th season March 8.(Photo: Timothy Kuratek/CBS Entertainment)

On TV

What: 'Survivor: Game Changers,' a two-hour premiere and the show's 500th episode

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Buy Photo

Wine Country Rocks Concert Series features five concerts throughout the summer, bringing lawn chairs and blankets is advised, 6 to 9 p.m., concerts being at 7 p.m. on Fridays, through Aug. 31, Legacy Estate Vineyard. $15. Visit eolahillswinery.com/2018-concert-series for more information on bands and artists. BROOKE JACKSON-GLIDDEN / Statesman Journal

Yoga + Beer comes to Salem Ale Works the first Saturday of the month, Victory Club the second Wednesday of the month, Gilgamesh (when the weather is nice) the third Wednesday of the month, Rock Boxx the second Sunday of the month,1859! Cider Co. the last Sunday of each monthand at Eola Hills the first Monday of the month (featuring wine instead of beer. $5 suggested donation. cheersandnamaste.com. Yoga + Beer

The garden of historic landscapers Elizabeth Lord and Edith Schryver, the first women landscapers to open a practice in the Pacific Northwest, are open to the public on the second Sunday and third Saturday of the month, 1 to 4 p.m., Gaiety Hollow. $5 for those 16 and older. Courtesy the Lord & Schryver Conservancy

Spray fountains in Salem will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Riverfront Park and River Road Park, and noon to 8 p.m. at Fairmount Park, Northgate Park, Wes Bennett Park, West Salem Park and Englewood Park daily throughout the summer. Statesman Journal file

The Guess Who will join John Kay & Steppenwolf at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31,at the Oregon State Fair. General admission is free, VIP is an additional cost. oregonstatefair.org. Special to the Statesman Journal